pul·ver·ize (pŭl'və-rīz')

v., -ized, -iz·ing, -iz·es.

v.tr.

1. To pound, crush, or grind to a powder or dust.
2. To demolish.

v.intr.
To be ground or reduced to powder or dust.

[Middle English pulverizen, from Late Latin pulverizāre, from Latin pulvis, pulver-, dust.]

pulverizable pul'ver·iz'a·ble adj.
pulverization pul'ver·i·za'tion (-vər-ĭ-zā'shən) n.
pulverizer pul'ver·iz'er n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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